Nursery Places

Summary

The requester asked for the total number of nursery places and their occupancy rates for the 2017-2018 academic year. The Department of Education disclosed the total number of available places but stated it does not hold data on specific vacancies as nurseries are privately operated and regulated by the Department of Health and Social Care.

Key Facts

• There were 1,498 nursery places available on the Island as of June 2018.
• The Department of Education does not hold data on nursery place vacancies or occupancy rates.
• Nurseries operate as fee-based Child Day Care Centres provided by the private sector.
• Inspection and statutory control of nurseries are handled by the Registration & Inspections Unit of the Department of Health and Social Care.
• The Department of Education is responsible for providing pre-school vouchers but not for monitoring occupancy.

Data Disclosed

• 1,498
• September 2017
• July 2018
• June 2018
• 30 May 2018
• 5 June 2018
• 487245

Exemptions Cited

• Information not held

Original Request

1.) The number of nursery places available on the Island for the academic year from September 2017 to July 2018 2.) The number of said nursery places that were filled and the number that were vacant in that same period

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

Corporate Services Division Department of Education, Sport and Culture Hamilton House Peel Road, Douglas IM1 5EZ Telephone: (01624) 685808
Website: www.gov.im/dec Email: dec@foi.gov.im
Our ref: 487245 5 June 2018

Dear ###

This request is being handled under the Freedom of Information Act 2015.

We write further to your request which was received on 30 May 2018 and which states:

"1.) The number of nursery places available on the Island for the academic year from September 2017 to July 2018 2.) The number of said nursery places that were filled and the number that were vacant in that same period"

1. Information held As at June 2018 there are currently 1,498 nursery places available in the Island.
2. Information not held While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Department does not hold or cannot find, after taking reasonable steps to do so, some of the information that you have requested (relating to nursery place vacancies). The Department is responsible for the provision (to eligible persons) of pre-school vouchers in respect of early years provision but does not currently have a direct monitoring role around occupancy/vacancy data for nursery places. Nurseries operate as fee-based Child Day Care Centres provided by the private sector which at present are subject to inspection and statutory control by the Registration & Inspections Unit of the Department of Health and Social Care. Please quote the reference number 487245 in any future communications.

Your right to request a review

If you are unhappy with this response to your freedom of information request, you may ask us to carry out an internal review of the response, by completing a complaint form and submitting it electronically or by delivery/post.

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In response to an application for review, the Information Commissioner may, at any time, attempt to resolve a matter by negotiation, conciliation, mediation or another form of alternative dispute resolution and will have regard to any outcome of this in making any subsequent decision. More detailed information on your right to a review can be found on the Information Commissioner’s website at www.inforights.im. Should you have any queries concerning this letter, please do not hesitate to contact me. Further information about freedom of information requests can be found at www.gov.im/foi. I will now close your request as of this date.

Yours sincerely